Simple Management Elegance

Management Issues offers this post called Bad Management Makes Australians Miserable. Well, I think bad management makes people miserable all over the world, but this interesting post shares information about a recent study that says the problem is pretty serious down under.

"Dissatisfaction was particularly marked in the insurance and banking sector, where fully two-thirds said they were unhappy with their jobs.

This was closely followed by the media and manufacturing sectors, with more than six out of 10 giving their jobs the thumbs-down."

What is it that people want? The post goes on to say:

"But as the report makes clear, the overwhelming reason for this widespread discontent is that managers simply fail to live up to the standards expected by their employees.

According to the survey, the two management traits that employees respect the most are ‘the ability to follow up their words with action’ and ‘openness and honesty’."

AND

"Almost seven out of 10 employees do not believe that their management is open and honest and half think that managers do not listen to them. Seven out of 10 also said that managers ignore suggestions and criticism and a similar number complained that they do not provide regular feedback.

Unsurprisingly, more than four out of 10 (45 per cent) said that their management did not inspire trust."

Are employees asking managers to sing and dance like Fred Astaire? Play like Yo Yo Ma?
Do they want someone as intelligent as Leonardo DaVinci?
Are they expecting Peter Drucker?

No. What’s MOST important is elegantly simple and within everyone’s capabilities. Employees want a leader who keeps promises/agreements, listens, is responsive, and is honest and trustworthy. These are qualities we seek in life partners, friends, and community leaders.

I do not understand why we have a leadership crisis. If we expected more from our managers and spouses and from ourselves, people who did not meet our basics needs would not get jobs or mates.

This reminds me of something author Tim Sanders (Likeability Factor) said to me when I talked to him for the Boss’s Day e-book project I did with 1800CEOREAD. I asked Tim what people should do if they worked for jerks. Here is his response:

1. "If you have a candid and good relationship, you need to have a heart to heart conversation and talk about what they are doing to other people. This is difficult. I read in the book, How Full is your Bucket, that according to British scientists, boss-induced hypertension could increase the risks of coronary heart disease by 1/6 and the risk of stroke by 1/3. That ought to be motivation enough."

2. "Quit your job and make it public why you did. Tell the CEO. Tell them you want to work for an organization where you are appreciated. This is important feedback for this boss. If you keep working there, you enable this person."